Daycare morning care will be located in the library (45 Walmer Road, foyer on left inside front doors). Daycare staff will be inside the 45 Walmer Road front door to welcome children. Supervision will begin at 8:00am. If parents arrive before 8:00am, they will need to line up with their child in a socially distant manner until 8:00am. Parents are not permitted into the library or any other part of the school. Children MUST BE SCREENED PRIOR TO ARRIVAL using the JICS COVID-19 screening tool each morning before 8:00am. The Lab School will share COVID-19 screening results for registered Daycare users. Daycare staff will dress and escort the JK and SK children to the school yard at 8:45am. Nursery children and their belongings will be escorted to their classroom at 8:45/8:50am. Students in Gr 1 - 6 will travel independently directly to their classroom at 8:45am.

Nursery (pick up between 3:10/3:30pm): Nursery parents or designated caregivers are permitted to enter the school and go directly to Nursery classroom to pick up their child(ren) and belongings if they prefer. Masks must be worn to enter the school building. Nursery children with siblings in Kindergarten will be escorted outside by 3:20pm by Daycare staff who will remain in the yard for supervision. These children will line up in the yard with their sibling(s) and await arrival of parent or designated caregiver. Nursery children with siblings in Gr 1-6 will be escorted outside by 3:20pm by Daycare staff who will remain in the yard for supervision. These children will line up in the yard with their sibling/s and await arrival of parent or designated caregiver. After School Daycare (pick up between 3:30 and 6:00pm): Parents are required to call the ICS Daycare cell number 647-518-6887 upon arrival at 45 Walmer Road. Parents are not permitted into the school yard. Daycare staff will dress (if help is needed) and escort the child(ren) to the front door of 45 Walmer Road or the North school yard gate. If the children are outside in the yard, the Daycare staff will enter the school with the child(ren) to collect personal belongings before escorting the child(ren) to the North school yard gate.

Nursery: At 11:45am, Nursery children who are registered for Daycare will begin their afternoon program with Daycare staff. Daycare staff always liaise with Nursery teachers for updates and to support smooth transition of care. JK and SK: Between 3:10/3:20pm, Daycare staff will pick up registered Kindergarten children from their classrooms or school yard. Gr 1-3: Between 3:20/3:30pm, Daycare staff will pick up registered Gr 1-3 children from their classroom(s) or school yard. Gr 4-6: At 3:20/3:30pm, students will walk directly to the Multi-Purpose Room where Daycare staff awaits them. A daycare staff member will be outside to collect any children registered for daycare who may have forgotten to go directly to the daycare.

Daycare staff will serve a commercially prepared (store bought), individually wrapped snack to students. Single serving whole fruits (fruits that have not been cut) can be served. Staff will be wearing medical masks and face shields or eye protection at all times. Children will wash or sanitize their hands prior to and after eating their snack.

To communicate information with the Daycare, it is preferred that parents email ics.after.school.daycare@gmail.com as this email is monitored throughout the day. A response email will be sent to notify parents that the information has been received.

The Daycare cell phone is 647-518-6887 and dedicated to announcing parent arrival for pick-up. Parents are not permitted to enter the school, therefore parents must phone to announce arrival at the school. Children will be escorted to front door at 45 Walmer Road, or to North school yard gate (if children are already outside). Daycare staff will assist children to gather their personal belongings from inside.

Upon registration, parents provide the Daycare with a list of adults who may pick their child(ren). If a new adult is required for pick-up, parents are required to email ics.after.school.daycare@gmail.com to inform the Daycare of the identity of the adult and confirm permission to pick up on specific date. Upon arrival, the adult must follow the pick-up procedures and provide identification to the Daycare staff.

Daycare cohorts will be established once enrollment is confirmed. Children may be in Daycare between one and five days a week, but will remain with the same cohort. Each cohort will have a dedicated Daycare staff person. Groupings will be mixed grade, but size and student-to-teacher ratio will be in compliance with Ministry of Education and Public Health guidelines. Daycare cohorts (to be confirmed following enrollment): Nursery cohort will remain in the Nursery classroom JK and SK daycare cohort will utilize the JK classroom Gr 1 - 3 daycare cohort will utilize the Grade 1 classroom Gr 4 - 6 daycare cohort will utilize the Multi-Purpose Room

Families who wish their child(ren) to join Daycare after the start of the school year, must inquire with Daycare Supervisor regarding availability. Registration requires a commitment until the end of the term (e.g. December, March, June).

Children will be required to wash or sanitize hands before entering the Daycare. They will be required to wash or sanitize their hands before and after eating snack, and after using the washroom. They will be required to wash or sanitize their hands before and after going out into the school yard. Daycare staff will model, support and supervise the washing or sanitizing of students’ hands.

In order to minimize movement in the building, children’s belongings will be brought to their Daycare location and remain with them indoors and in the school yard.

After use, all materials will be disinfected by Daycare staff.

Wednesday afternoon is an extension of the regular Daycare program. On Wednesdays, children will eat lunch in their dedicated space (a litterless lunch from home - please note that the packed hot lunch program, The Lunch Mom does NOT provide lunch on Wednesdays). They will wash/sanitize their hands before and after eating lunch. Following lunch, children will have outdoor play time, and engage in a variety of activities based on the children’s interests, encompassing art, crafts, games, sports, and other projects.

Children in Grade 1 - 6 will be required to wear non-medical or cloth masks while in school both indoors and outdoors (with exception for those with a medical condition). Please notify Daycare Supervisor if this applies to your child. Children in Kindergarten are strongly encouraged to wear masks in indoor spaces. If a child wears a mask during the school day, they will be supported to wear the mask during Daycare.

All Daycare staff will wear medical masks and face shields or eye protection. Staff use gloves when required.

Should a child develop symptoms of illness during the day, Daycare staff will immediately contact parents or emergency contact person to arrange for the child to be picked up. The symptomatic child will be isolated and supervised by a Daycare staff member until parent or designated caregiver arrives. Parents must follow Lab School’s illness protocols prior to return to school and Daycare.

All Daycare staff are required to complete a daily self-assessment each morning prior to coming to work. Daycare staff who are ill or are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 are required to remain at home and get tested. If a Daycare staff member receives a negative COVID-19 test result, they will follow current Public Health and Ministry of Education guidelines regarding return to school/work.

The Daycare and Lab School are obligated to inform Public Health and the community if a child or adult tests positive for COVID-19. Public Health will inform us of next steps and this will be communicated to the parent community and staff.

As announced on August 17, 2021, the Ministry of Education intends to introduce an immunization disclosure policy for all public and private school employees and licensed child care settings for the 2021-2022 school year, with rapid antigen testing requirements for staff who are not immunized against COVID-19. The University of Toronto also requires that all faculty and staff be vaccinated against COVID-19, in full accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. The Daycare adheres to policies set by the University of Toronto, therefore Daycare staff will be required to provide proof of full vaccination or comply with the University’s rapid antigen testing program, where results will need to be uploaded regularly.